maƀa

root. something nice

A root given as maƀ or mam in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “something nice”, with derivatives like G. mab(a) “mother”, G. mam “grandmother”, G. mav- “like”, and G. mavri “appetite” (GL/57). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing, but I think it is worth positing a Neo-Sindarin root ᴺ√MAB to salvage some of these early words.

Derivatives

• G. mam “grandmother, mother” ✧ GL/57
• G. maus “pleasure; pleasant taste, pleasant” ✧ GL/57
• G. mav- “to like” ✧ GL/57
• G. mavri “appetite” ✧ GL/57
• G. mavra “eager after” ✧ GL/57
• G. mavros “desire, eager longing” ✧ GL/57
• G. mavrog “eager” ✧ GL/57
• G. mavwin “wish” ✧ GL/57
• G. mavwin “ancestress, †mother” ✧ GL/57
• G. mab(a) “mother” ✧ GL/57

Variations

• maƀ ✧ GL/57
• mam ✧ GL/57

mama

root. something nice